Apparatus for transferring material



Sept. 15, 1931.. w. R. JONES APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING MATERIAL Filed Dec. 10,- 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wm wm N E g I .o

Sept. 15, 1931. w R, JONES 1,823,148

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING MATERIAL Filed Dec. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orries WILLIAM R. JONES, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO U. U. CARE, OF MONONGAI-IELA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM F. NAN STIEL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING MATERIAL Application filed December 10, 1927. Serial No. 239,155.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transferring material, and more particularly to apparatus known commercially as the scraper or scoop type of apparatus. It is especially adapted for use in coal mining operations, for transferring coal which has been shot down or otherwise mined, and wherein the bed being mined lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

Among the objects of the present invention are, to provide a self-contained apparatus in combination with'a scraper and rope haulage capable of transferring material from one point to another; to provide an apparatus which is movable from one loading point to another by its own power, and of such a character that it may be entered in rooms of relatively small height and the scoops or scrapers manipulated to effectively reach and load the coal at any point in the room; to provide a revolving structure mounted on the front of the machine proper, designed to cooperate with the scoop or scraper for effecting a desired travel of the scoop, as, for example, in a semi-circular path across the front of the machine; and to provide an apparatus of the character specified including drums mounted on the apparatus and ropes leading from the drums to a scoop, whereby the loading of coal and a transfer of the same and the return of the scoops or scrapers to their loading position is effected.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, a side elevational view thereof; and

Fig. 3, a sectional View taken through a mine entry and room, showing the apparatus in operative position.

Referring to the drawings, the machine proper includes a base 5 of any suitable con struction, such as a flat plate or floor member, said member being designed to carry the operating parts, as hereinafter described. Mounted on this floor member are a series of bearings 6, 7 and 8, designed to support a transversely extending drum-carrying shaft 9. The drums, indicated by the numerals 10 and 11, are loosely mounted and free to rotate on shaft 9.

Shaft 9 is driven by means of an electric motor M and driving mechanism interposed between the motor and the shaft. As illustrated and as preferred, the driving means.

include gears 12 and 13 respectively secured to the inner end flanges of the drums 10 and 11, pinions 14 and 15 mounted on a shaft 16, the latter being supported by central bearings 17 and end bearings 18. Said shaft 16 is in turn connected to the motor drive shaft by means of a chain drive 19.

For efiecting an operative drive connection between the respective drums 10 and 11 and the driven shaft 16, I provide a clutch member 20 slidably mounted on shaft 16 between the pinions 14 and 15. Clutch 20 is moved into and out of engagement with the pinions 14 and 15 by means of a bell-crank lever 21', a connecting rod 22 and a hand lever 28, the latter being positioned at the rear end of the machine.

A characteristic and important feature of the present invention comprises means carried at the front of the machine for effecting a desired travel of a scoop or scraper in a curved path across the front of the machine, thereby enabling the scoop to be so guided or directed in its travel so as to reach any portion of the room in which the loose coal is located. These means, as illustrated, are designated generally by the character C, and include a revoluble frame comprising two horizontally disposed spaced apart plates 24 and 25, preferably of rectangular shape, and carrying a series of sheaves or rollers 26 mounted at the corner thereof on pins 26a. 27 designates a spacer member, and 32 a shaft passed therethrough and upon which the frame revolves for the purpose of guiding or directing the movements of the scoop or scraper 33. This construction is in effect a compound sheave or roller.

The revoluble frame may be supported from the front of the machine in any suitable manner. As shown, I employ two spaced-apart plate-like members 28 and 29, said members being attached to the base 5 by aIcliaiiiiel member 30 and angle members 31. f desirable, member 29 may be provided with an extension 29a and this extension secured to the base.

The machine may be mounted on and movable by any suitable tractor means. In the drawings, I have shown caterpillar treads These treads are designed to be actuated by the main motor M through shaft 16, and for this purposeI have provided a gear keyed to said shaft 16, a shaft 36 having a gear 37 thereon similar togear 35 and designed to mesh therewith. In addition to the longitudinalhyextending shaft 36, I provide a short longitudinally extending shaft 38 designed, to be driven from shaft 36 by means of achain 39, and a second shaft 40, similar to shaft 33 and driven. from shaft 33 by a chain drive 41. Interposed' between the said drive chains 39 and 41, and mounted; on the respective shafts 3-3 and 40, I provide a gearing including beveled pinions 42 and 4&3 loosely mounted on shaft 38 and corresponding prinions 42(6- and- 43a loosely mounted on shaft 40. Dis-posedbetween each set of heveled pinionsis a clutch 44 slidably keyed on": the respective shafts 3S and and designed to cooperate with one beveled? pinion at a time. Cooper a-ting with the respective sets: of pinions 42 and and 42-40 and are-beveled gears 5 and 45a. Extending outwardly from the beveled gear 45 isa' left-'l iand drive shaft 4 6, the latter being mounted in abearing 47. Arranged ina similar manner, is: right-hand drive sl iaft mounted in a bearing 51 carrying gear 45a; 7

Mounted on the endsv of the drive shafts 46 and 50 are sprocketwheels 52, said sprockets being adapted to coi-act with the treads 345. for the purpose of driving the same ld'lie sprockets 53 are also employed for the respective treads, these latter sprock etsbeing located at the rear of the machine on a shaft 54a. The respective clutches are actuated forked bell cranks 55,, through rods=56ileadin g from the bell spanks to operatiing'levers- 5'2 positioned at the rear of the machine and adjacent tothe clutch operating lever 23'. i

It will: be understood that the speed of the motor may be regulated in any suitable manner as, for example, by a control ind-icated at 58, said control being manipulated by hand wheel 59 located withineasy' reach of an operator'positioned onthe rearof the machine.

The rope haulage system as. illustrated includes a wirerope- 60 leading from dri'im 10 around at sheave or pulley 61,- the latter being mounted adjacent to the point at which it is desired to dump the coal.-

rope 60 is designed to be fastened to thefront end of a scoop, as 33, for example, at a point 33a thereof. A second wire rope 62 is led from drum 11 through an opening 63 in the base 5, and passes over and around revoluble frame or compound sheave C, one end being attached to the rear of the scoop 33 at 335. It will be noted that this arrangement provides, in effect, an endless rope haulage of variable length.

' Referring now particularly to Fig. 3-, A. designates a mine entry and B a roomleading. from the entry. Entry A is of sufiicient size to permit the laying of tracks 64: therein, and to perm-it the passage of cars indicated by the numeral 65. Any convenient means be employed for dis-charging the coal or ether material into the cars as it is conveyed by the scoop andhanlage system to the point of discharge. As; shown, I p're vicle a chute 66 having. arising portion {37 l and: a: downwardly inclined portion 68, The

sheave 61 may be mounted on a post 69 located? adjacent to the dumping: point.

By a proper manipulation of thedrums 10 and 1. 1,. it will be understood that the scoop or scraper may be drawn into con tact with the revolving frame or compound sheave C and that when in this position, in contact with the revolving: frame,- the scoop will be caused totravel in a cinrvecl path, and by moving: the machine proper, the scoop on scraper may be moved to any position within the room. for: the purpose of gathering the loose coal. therein,

In Fig. 3, I have shown the scoop in full lines in operative contact withthecom- -ound she-awa The position of the scoop: a ter it has gathered: the coal anrlistraveling in a direction toward the chute islshoiwn by dotted lines in: Fig; It will, of course,- beun derstood; that when the drum 1K0 is function to wind up on the rope, drum 111' is free to rotate to pay out the. rope.

Afton the scoop) has; reached the: chute mechanism and is dumped, it may be re tinned to the desired. operative position! withinthe room by m'eans out the: other c lrmn.. To prevent the ropes from becoming entangled in the treads, provide fenders 7 0 which also serve as bu tferszfor the: ropes.

IE claimi:

1. In a material: transfer apparatus of the. character described, the combination with a selncontained power driven machine haw ing a pair of rope drums mounted thereon, of. a scraper: means including av rope haula'ge'. leadin from the drums, and an larr- :tnznne; carried at the. front of' the chine over which theropeh au lage is traii ne'd Sana frame. being freely nevolub'le through travel of the rope haulage thereover.

In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combinationwith self contaained' power driven machine hav ing' a pair ofrope drums mounted thereon,

of a scoop-scraper, a rope haulage leading from the drums to the scoop-scraper and connected thereto, and a revoluble frame carried at the front of the machine for effecting a travel of the scoop-scraper in a curved path across the front of the machine, said revolving frame being of rectangular shape and having a roller or sheave mounted at each corner thereof.

3. In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combination with a self-contained power driven machine having a pair of rope drums mounted thereon, of a scraper means including a rope haulage leading from the drums to a scoopscraper and connected thereto, a freely revoluble angular frame carried at the front of the machine, said frame having a plurality of sides, and a sheave mounted on said frame over which the rope haulage extends, whereby a pull on the haulage revolves the frame to guide the travel of the scoopscraper.

4. In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combination with a self-contained power driven machine having a pair of rope drums mounted thereon and operable by the said power, of a scoopscraper, a rope haulage leading from the drums to the scoop-scraper and connected thereto, a revoluble frame comprising spaced apart plates and a spacer element carried at the front of the machine, means for supporting the frame, said frame being revolubly mounted on the supporting means on a member passed through the spacer element, and a sheave mounted on said frame over which the rope haulage extends, whereby a pull on the haulage revolves the frame to guide the travel of the scoop-scraper.

5. In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combination with a self-contained power driven machine having a pair of rope drums mounted thereon and operable by the said power, of a scoopscraper, a rope haulage leading from the drums to the scoopscraper and connected thereto, an angular frame carried at the front of the machine for effecting a travel of the scoop-scraper across the front of the machine, said frame being freely revoluble through the movement of the rope haulage and sheaves mounted on said frame at substantially the corners thereof over which the rope haulage extends.

6. In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combination with a power-driven machine, scraper means, said scraper means including a rope haulage, means on the machine to operate the rope haulage, a frame at one end of the machine over which the rope haulage is trained, said frame having a plurality of substantially straight edge portions to be successively moved into engagement with the rope haulage, said frame being freely revoluble through travel of the rope haulage there over.

7. In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combination with a power-driven machine, scraper means, said scraper means including a rope haulage, means on the machine to operate the rope haulage, a frame at one end of the machine over which the rope haulage is trained, said frame having a plurality of edge portions against which the scoop may bear at a side thereof under working conditions, and means mounting said frame for free revolution through travel of the rope haulage thereover.

8. In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combination with a self-contained power-driven machine, scraper means, said scraper means including a rope haulage, a pair of rope drums on the machine and driven by said power to operate said rope haulage, a frame at one end of the machine over which the rope haulage is trained, means mounting the frame for free revolution through the movement of the rope haulage, and a plurality of traction devices independently operable to enable maneuvering of the machine in restricted space.

9. In a material transfer apparatus of the character described, the combination with a self-contained power-driven machine, scraper means, said scraper means including a rope haulage, a pair of rope drums on the machine and driven by said power to operate the rope haulage, a frame at one end of the machine over which the rope haulage is trained, means mounting the frame for free revolution through the movement of the rope haulage, traction devices for the machine on different sides from said frame, and means to independently operate the traction devices substantially located between the drums and frame to enable maneuvering of the machine in restricted space.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM R. JONES. 

